By Nick Thomas

When a top female British singer declined to appear on the premiere episode of the new American musical variety show “Shindig!” on September 16, 1964, the producer knew who to call – Donna Loren.
“Dusty Springfield couldn’t make the first show, so I was invited to sing her hit Wishin’ and Hopin’ and became a regular cast member for the rest of the series,” said Loren, who turned 75 in March, from her home in Bisbee, Arizona.
Loren had already impressed American television audiences six years earlier with stunning performances guest-starring as a child singing prodigy on “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
By 1963, she was also gaining nationwide recognition as the model and spokesperson for the Dr Pepper Company, performing at promotional events across the country since the age of 16. In films, she appeared in two 1964 musical comedies, “Muscle Beach Party” and “Bikini Beach,” with a third, “Pajama Party,” released shortly after her first “Shindig!” appearance. All three films starred beloved former lead Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello.
With film, television, advertising, and song contracts before her, the dark-haired beauty with a killer voice seemed poised to take the 60s entertainment world by storm, even acting on popular shows such as “Batman,” “The Monkees,” and “Gomer Pyle: USMC.” An additional beach film, “Beach Blanket Bingo,” was released in 1965 featuring Loren’s signature song, “It Only Hurts When I Cry.”
But by 1969, Donna had largely vanished from the entertainment scene.
“Privately, my life growing up had been difficult,” she admitted. “My mother had me out of wedlock and was mired in shame back in the 1940s. She didn’t want me and didn’t even like me which I’ve had to try to balance all my life.”
Loren married in 1968, at the age of 21, as her 5-year contract with Dr Pepper was coming to an end. But then, tragedy struck her new family.
“Two months after the wedding my mother-in-law passed away suddenly,” she explained. “I’d had the contract with Dr Pepper since I was 16 and on my 21st birthday they wanted me to fly to the company headquarters in Dallas to perform for the executives.”
Around this time, with all her earnings going straight to her parents, she also became pregnant.
“I knew the Dr Pepper CEO, Foots Clements, so I called him to say I was getting out of the business,” she said. “I did not want to be used anymore and I needed my child to know who I was. I have absolutely no regrets about the decision.”
Loren went on to raise several children and remarried. After 40 years of private life and with her family grown, she began recording and performing again in the late 2000s.
With numerous singles and CDs released in the past decade, she even relearned 100 songs she had performed in the 60s, posting many online for fans. If Loren had any doubts about recording after a prolonged absence, the words of Mickey Mouse Club teen idol Funicello confirmed her self-confidence.
“I still remember my appearance on the show and Annette later sending me a Christmas card in which she wrote ‘I wish I could sing like you!’” recalled Loren, whose still-powerful vocal performances are cataloged on her website (www.donnaloren.com).
Loren has been recounting her life and career recently on a series of weekly podcasts titled “Love is a Secret Weapon” co-hosted by Dr. Adam Gerace (see www.anchor.fm/lovesasecretweaponpodcast).
“I love communicating with people,” she says. “Give me a minute and I’ll give you my all.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, in Alabama, and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See www.tinseltowntalks.com.

Story and photo by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

Since its inception in 2001, Mark Bravo, 64, has added color commentary to the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon’s live television broadcast on KFOR-Channel 4 locally while actively supporting the race throughout the year and on marathon weekend. From hosting the event’s two-day Health and Fitness Expo to helping with invited legends of the sport coming to the race to inspire runners both at the Expo and all weekend, Bravo has devoted hundreds of hours to the event over the years.
He takes great pride in making sure its national reputation as the “Run to Remember” leaves participants with two distinct emotions. The first is to bring together runners and spectators from around the world to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those who were changed forever in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Another source of pride the race has fostered is to treat runners and walkers to many extras not available at most marathons. This makes each person feel like an “elite” participant because of the on-course support from a massive outpouring of cheering and volunteering OKC residents. (story continues below)

The marathon weekend’s amenities in April, and the race itself, punctuates what has become known as the “Oklahoma Standard.” Oklahoma City offers an outpouring of volunteerism and an Expo that assists runners and walkers in getting fired up for their big day, no matter what event they seek to accomplish.
A highly anticipated aspect of the Expo is interaction with Hall of Famers from the sport who speak about their experiences in and out of the sport and training expertise to help ease runners’ minds before their race. Some years Bravo’s duties included recruiting marathon luminaries for the weekend, some of whom were literally at the forefront of the “running boom” in America in the ’70s and ’80s. The Expo’s “Legends Booth” hosts some of the best American runners ever.
This year saw National Track and Field Hall of Famers like four-time Boston and New York Marathon winner Bill Rodgers and Hall of Famer and Olympic Marathon Champion Joan Benoit Samuelson attend. Famed marathoner Dick Beardsley spoke at the Expo. Also speaking was world record-holder and double amputee marathoner Marco Cheseto. Oklahoman Dan Little, 78, spoke about trying to run seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents later this year, a feat he succeeded in doing just two years ago.
With Bravo’s broadcast journalism training from the University of Oklahoma, he joins KFOR’s Kevin Ogle and Linda Cavanaugh in anchoring live television coverage of the Sunday marathon on-air and online beginning at 6 a.m. each year. As an experienced marathoner himself, he describes the events from the runners’ point of view and offers background on the many elite and “ordinary” runners.
“I’m humbled to be a part of this race, and to offer color commentary on race day gives me a chance to provide insight into road racing. I describe the mindset of all levels of athletes who participate and the importance of this race to Oklahoma, not only in April but all year long,” Bravo said in an interview. “I’m fortunate to have a lot of engagement with athletes of all abilities throughout the year. The connection to the community has made it one of my great pleasures to help document every OKC Memorial Marathon.”
Bravo is a freelance writer, broadcaster and nationally-noted road race announcer who has finished almost 50 marathons in his 40-plus years in the sport. He speaks at countless sports-focused venues on building momentum in one’s life. Bravo has coached runners for the last two decades, and his view of mental and physical wellness is detailed in his well-received book: “Momentum: 77 Observations Toward a Life Well Lived.”
Bravo’s definition of an “athlete” has less to do with physical prowess but more about a few principles: “It’s viewing the world and yourself through a ‘kinder, gentler’ lens, an always existent ‘stick-to-it-iveness,’ strong view that the glass is ‘three-quarters full, not half-empty,’ and an ever-present emphasis on gratitude. Through these principles and how we share them, each of us raises the calibration of the entire world!”
He stays intricately involved with the running community locally in his position at OK RUNNER OKC in downtown Oklahoma City. Bravo and his wife, Leslie, live in Edmond, Okla.
The event that some years hosts more than 25,000 runners and walkers from every state and several foreign countries starts at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The course goes through Bricktown, by the Capitol Complex, Nichols Hills, and several of Oklahoma City’s historic neighborhoods. Along with thousands of eager volunteers helping on the routes, the participants see 168 banners bearing the names of the 1995 bombing victims.
Participants are offered a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay (5 member teams), 5K, Kids marathon and a wheelchair division. Runners can secure a place in the Boston Marathon at this qualifying event.
The event is the Museum’s largest fundraiser as the sole beneficiary of the proceeds to support its year-round operation. It honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. Many runners and walkers visit it during their time in Oklahoma City for the event.
The staging of an event of this magnitude requires the cooperation of many partners. There is a massive outpouring of help from the City of Oklahoma City, its Police and Fire Departments and the medical community. Community resources and safety are also provided by Nichols Hills and other parts of the courses, such as the Capitol Complex.
The volunteer race medical staff has a stellar reputation nationwide in road racing circles, especially for the fully equipped medical facility and the quality of care provided at the finish line. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine volunteers have set that standard. Volunteer communications personnel are positioned at intervals along the course to keep the fully-equipped medical team of professionals aware of events all over the course.
“Nationally and on social media, the running community has a lot to say about what is considered a great event,” Bravo said. “Many runners will come to our event for the first time due to the premise. With so many marathons available, they won’t return if the efficiency isn’t in there. I hear runner’s accounts to other runners every year when I visit other cities’ marathon expos: ‘You have to run this race (OKC Memorial Marathon). It’s the best race I’ve ever done! They treat you like you’re the most special runner there.’ We take great pride in that endorsement.”
In its continuing tradition of making the event memorable, a new feature was added this year. Any runner setting a personal record during the event could celebrate by ringing the new Personal Record Bell near the finish line in Scissortail Park. The bell was on the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Truck 55, which provided aid after the 1995 bombing. An original stone from the Murrah Federal Building is set beneath the bell’s commemorative plaque.
After working the race for more than two decades, Bravo continues to exude class. After his broadcast work was over, Mark was still there this year. He announced athletes to their finishes and high-fived many, including the last official finisher, a 78-year-old male from Virginia, as he crossed the finish line almost seven hours after the start at 6:40:44. Bravo says he counts those experiences as much as the elite performances as the “real stories” of the race.

The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places designation for the following properties in Oklahoma. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
Oklahoma County
William L. Bradford Building
27 E. Sheridan Ave., Oklahoma City
The William L. Bradford Building near downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, is locally significant for its association with Commerce and Industry. Constructed in 1909, the four-story, red brick building was developed as an investment property in Oklahoma City’s burgeoning warehouse district, known today as Bricktown. A simple corbeled brick cornice adorns the top of the building in reference to the Classical Revival architectural style that was commonly seen at the turn of the 20th century. Various manufacturers and wholesalers occupied the building during its period of significance from 1909 to 1941, including the Southwestern Fountain Company, the Can’t Spill Oil Can Company and Kansas City Paper House.
Kay County
Ponca City Coca-Cola Bottling Company
511 S. First St., Ponca City
The Ponca City Coca-Cola Bottling Company is locally significant for its association with Industry. The modest, one- and two-story, painted brick building was completed in a series of phases between 1923 and 1956 as the bottling plant expanded to meet the growing demands of the local community. The historic period glass block windows, drive-through service entries and signage panels reflect the building’s unique industrial uses and share common vernacular design elements with other nearby industrial complexes. Part of an integrated chain of local and regional bottling operations, the Ponca City Coca-Cola facility reflects the significant, early-20th-century industrial growth of the community and was the longest continually operated bottling works in Ponca City.
WBBZ Radio Station
1601 E. Oklahoma Ave., Ponca City
WBBZ Radio Station is locally significant for its association with Communications and Architecture. The station property is comprised of a two-story, buff brick, Modernist radio station building and an adjacent 165-foot metal transmitter tower, all completed in 1951–52. The modest, flat-roofed station building with its distinctive corner window and glass block glazing represents an exceptionally well-preserved local example of mid-century International style design. Ponca City does not have a large concentration of mid-20th century International style buildings. Thus, the intact and somewhat unusual nature of the WBBZ Station building marks it an exemplary local example of International style design. The WBBZ Radio Station provided an important outlet for local and regional communications regarding news, current events and general entertainment in an era before the widespread use of television and the Internet for social communications. The station also had a significant role in the establishment of local weather warning systems and civil defense programs in the immediate post–World War II era, a particularly important aspect given Oklahoma’s notorious reputation for severe and rapidly changing weather conditions.
Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates and nominates properties for this special designation. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

Join the Oklahoma Insurance Department for the Summer Senior Fraud Live Events This Summer

In conjunction with the first national Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s (OID) Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) is inviting Medicare beneficiaries to the Summer Senior Fraud Live Events on June 23 and July 14. OID has partnered with MAP, the Oklahoma Social Security Administration, the Oklahoma Department of Securities, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, AARP Oklahoma and the National Insurance Crime Bureau to educate and empower Oklahomans in the fight against fraud targeting senior citizens.
“We’re excited to bring back these in-person events and continue to work with our partners to help Oklahomans protect themselves from fraud,” Director of the MAP division Ray Walker said. “Educational events like this will help individuals stay safe and protect the Medicare program for generations to come.”
The Summer Senior Fraud Live Events, funded in part by the SMP grant through the Administration for Community Living, will be held at the OID’s Oklahoma City office. These in-person events will consist of two one-day sessions led by speakers with diverse areas of expertise such as state agency directors, Medicare professionals and fraud prevention professionals. The topics include Medicare and healthcare fraud, contractor fraud, cyber scams, investment fraud and securities fraud. These events are free for senior adults and include breakfast. Registration is required because of limited capacity. To register, visit oid.ok.gov/summerseniorfraud/.
The Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, held June 5-11, kicks off on June 5, or “6-5,” because most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 years old. Learn more about Medicare Fraud Prevention Week at www.smpresource.org
If you have questions about other insurance issues, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.

Dear Savvy Senior,

I’m planning to enroll in original Medicare in a few months and have been told I probably need to get a Medicare supplemental policy too. Can you offer any tips on selecting one? Almost 65

Dear Almost,
If you’re enrolling in original Medicare, getting a supplemental policy (also known as Medigap insurance) too is a smart idea because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and the Part A deductible. Here are some tips to help you choose an appropriate plan.
Medigap Plans
In all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans, which are sold by private health insurers, are available to new enrollees in eight different standardized plans. These plans are labeled with the letters A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, with two more, C and F, that are only available to those eligible for Medicare before 2020.
Plan G is the most popular policy among new enrollees because it covers the most comprehensive range of benefits. Monthly premiums for Plan G typically range between $100 and $300, depending on your age and the state you reside in. If that’s more than you’re willing to pay, there are also high-deductible plans that have lower premiums but impose higher out-of-pocket costs. (story continues below)

For more information on the different types of plans and coverage details, including Medigap options in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, go to Medicare.gov/publications and type in “choosing a medigap policy” in the Keyword box, and download their 2022 guide. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to mail you a copy.
How to Choose
To pick a Medigap policy that works best for you, consider your health, family medical history and your budget. The differences among plans can be small and rather confusing.
To help you choose, visit Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans and type in your ZIP code. This will give you a list of the plans available in your area, their price ranges and the names, and contact information of companies that sell them. But to get specific pricing information, you’ll need to contact the carriers directly or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. See ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675 for contact information.
Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover the exact same benefits (it’s required by law), you should shop for the cheapest policy.
You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health.
You also need to be aware of the pricing methods, which will affect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either: “community-rated” where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age; “issue-age-rated” that is based on your age when you buy the policy, but will only increase due to inflation, not age; and “attained-age-rated,” that starts premiums low but increases as you age. Community-rate and issue-age-rated policies are the best options because they will save you money in the long run.
You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company, or you can work with a reputable insurance broker.
Drug Coverage
You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. See Medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare plans. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision, dental care, hearing aids or long-term care.
Alternative Option
Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (see medicare.gov/plan-compare) that provides all-in-one coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

When you think of Washington DC in the spring, you might think of the Jefferson Memorial in Cherry Blossom splendor, but D.C. has so much more to offer, and that’s the problem.
Over the years I have discovered that some cities are just too large, diverse, and ever changing, to be experienced fully in just one visit. I find this true about our Nation’s Capitol, Washington D.C. That’s why I find it to be an “installment” city: one that needs to be visited over and over again, over a number of years (or decades in my experience.)
Creating a reasonable itinerary for D.C., and knowing your physical capabilities is the key. In my youth I walked and walked and walked to near exhaustion, to see some of the monuments, memorials and museums. For this brief two day trip I took it easy, knowing that in most likelihood that all would be there for another visit on down the line.
I used inexpensive taxis to go most places. I could not believe how accessible they were.
My home base was in the Beacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters, up the hill from the White House by several blocks. It was a comfortable hotel, with a doorman for taxis, offering spacious rooms, kitchenette and full size bath. While I would not try to visit their unfriendly dining establishment again, I would consider the hotel for my next installment. They do offer a rooftop bar on some nights. Go early before the music starts.
Months in advance I contacted both my Congressional representatives to see about getting a White House tour. After a prolonged attempt it did happen, and I was put on a list with a group of strangers, to this day I have not met. I showed up a little earlier than my appointed time, and went through 2 check lists before going through security. I was told on the website, no cameras, although cell phones with cameras were allowed (go figure that logic), no pencils, no pens, no back packs, no water, no nothing, or it would be taken away. Strange again, but the price you pay. The self guided tour, following a pre determined path, was reminiscent of a tour decades ago. In reflection it is fun to see the rooms and hallways on TV and know their juxtaposition to each other and such, because you were there. I’m ashamed to say, I did not get a feeling of awe, but seeing the portraits of JFK and Jacqueline was heart warming. A tour of the Capitol Building is much easier to get and very informative.
I can also recommend visiting the National Gallery, The Spy Museum and its adjacent restaurant, Zola. All three are worth a lengthy visit. Dining at Zola is definitely on my list for my next installment visit to D.C.
Other fun food and beverages were enjoyed at the iconic Old Ebbitt Grill, the Round Robin Bar at the Willard Intercontinental, and the roof top bar and dining atop the W Hotel, where extra ordinary sights can be had of the White House, Washington’s Monument, Jefferson Memorial and the Lee Mansion in Arlington The W can be a bit snooty, as they reserve several roof top bar tables for VIP’s, which are seldom used early in the evening. So as you wait for the elevator behind the velvet rope, just profess to the doorman you want to stand at the bar. It’s worth the effort.
I longed to see the National Cathedral and took a taxi there and back. Getting back was the challenge. I saw the edifice and took a Gargoyle tour, which I can not recommend.
One is shown slides of the exterior, and then taken out front on the grounds to try and see again, what you saw in slide format. My souvenir book of Gargoyles sold in the basement gift shop was worth its money; the tour was not. A quick trip to the architecturally pleasing National Museum of the American Indian was accomplished, along with a light lunch, and my two days were completed.
As these days much is changing and challenging, and while this was my experience, it is always best to explore and investigate your Installment on your own before a trip.
One of the best compliments of any travel adventure or meal is answering “Yes” to the question, “Would you have it again?” And “Yes,” Washington D.C. is already on my list for future city installments.
When you go or before check out:
Zola Dining: www.spymuseum.org/dining
Beacon Hotel: http://www.capitalhotelswdc.com/
The Spy Museum : www.spymuseum.org/
The National Cathedral: www.nationalcathedral.org
Washington D.C. info: http://washington.org

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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Mom jeans may be back in style this season, but mom genes never go out of fashion, say experts at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
In addition to the half-and-half mix of each parent’s DNA in the nucleus of our cells, genetic material is found in mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for producing energy.
“These mitochondria are passed to the child from the egg, so they are always inherited from the mother,” said OMRF genetics researcher Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D.
Mitochondrial DNA is small but mighty. It contains about 16,500 base pairs, compared to the roughly three billion in the nucleus, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.
“This inheritance from our mothers plays a big role in our bodies running smoothly,” Montgomery said. “It controls the mitochondria and helps regulate the metabolism.”
Plus, these mom genes are totally vintage – because they never merge with DNA from another parent, they can be a reliable source of information on population genetics and migration going back thousands of years, Montgomery said.
The small portion of DNA in the mitochondria is “like a satellite facility” of genetic material in the cell, said OMRF scientist Bill Freeman, Ph.D., who studies the impact of the genome on aging.
Mitochondrial DNA makes up for its size through numbers. While each cell has only one copy of the primary genome in the nucleus, Freeman said, the same cell may contain hundreds of mitochondria with thousands of copies of its genome.
These many copies help maintain function when risk factors like age and diet cause damage, said Montgomery. Mom genes can get tattered over time, and they need proper care.
As the “powerhouse of the cell,” the mitochondria are responsible for many cell functions. Its DNA taking damage can be a “critical factor in the development of diseases it is associated with,” Montgomery said.
“Proper mitochondrial function plays a part in everything from aging to neurodegenerative disease and diabetes to cancer,” Freeman said.
This Mother’s Day, appreciate mom by protecting her hand-me-downs, said Montgomery. “Get plenty of sleep, exercise, eat well, and avoid smoking — your mom genes will continue looking their best.”

Although extremely rare, adverse events have occurred after COVID-19 vaccinations, and people affected have exercised their rights to seek compensation. However, the U.S. government program that considers COVID-19 vaccine injury claims lacks accountability, transparency and cost-effectiveness, according to a recently published study led by a researcher in the Hudson College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
The study, published in the current issue of the Journal of Law and the Biosciences, was led by Junying Zhao, Ph.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of health administration and policy at the Hudson College of Public Health. The study provides the first-ever economic examination of the government’s Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), whose design is rife with unintended consequences, Zhao said.
The CICP has its roots in the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, which was enacted by Congress in 2005. The PREP Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a declaration in response to a public health emergency like COVID-19. As part of the declaration, companies that manufacture and distribute vaccines, as well as medical professionals and others who administer them, are granted immunity from tort liability claims — essentially, they cannot be sued in state or federal courts for any injury or death.
The PREP Act rightfully eliminates liability concerns for the large number of people quickly responding to a public health crisis like COVID-19, Zhao said. But the U.S. government still must provide a mechanism to compensate individuals and families when the evidence shows a person was harmed or died as a result of receiving the vaccine. The CICP was created to address injury claims related to public health emergencies.
“My expertise is applying economics to the intersection of medicine and law,” Zhao said. “A particular branch of law relevant to healthcare is tort law. When COVID-19 vaccinations became available, I became interested in how someone would seek justice if they were injured, or how their families would be compensated if a family member died. Although it has been very rare — only three adverse events reported per one million people in our study — we still need a fair program for people to seek compensation.”
Zhao’s discovery of the inadequacies within the CICP came after comparing it to the government’s decades-old program that responds to vaccine injury claims concerning traditional vaccines against the measles, seasonal flu and others that are administered routinely, not in response to an emergency like COVID-19. Called the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), it is located within the judicial branch of the federal government and operates in a typical court fashion in which attorneys for both the plaintiff (the person seeking compensation) and defendant (HHS) present evidence to a judge who specializes in vaccine injury cases.
In contrast, the CICP is located within the administrative branch, specifically HHS. Medical experts working for HHS make decisions for vaccine injury claims rather than each side making its case before a judge.
“In the CICP program, HHS serves as both the defendant and the judge,” Zhao said. “There is no third party to make sure both sides are heard. The design of the program incentivizes HHS to reject claims in order to reduce budget expenses.”
That assertion is reflected in the compensation amounts awarded by CICP as compared to the non-emergency VICP. In her study, Zhao found that the average compensation per adjudicated claim from the VICP is $243,129, while the average compensation from the CICP is $45,697. That translates to about one-fifth the amount of compensation for a COVID-19-related vaccine injury compared to the amount awarded for injuries caused by non-emergency vaccines.
“If someone has a mild adverse event, $45,000 may be sufficient,” Zhao said, “but what if a family’s primary breadwinner is temporarily or permanently disabled, or dies? In that case, $45,000 is not nearly enough to support a family in a lifetime, nor is it the worth of life.”
Zhao also found discrepancies in the administrative costs between the CICP and VICP. Administrative costs in the VICP are $24,000 per claim, money that pays judges, attorneys and medical experts. In contrast, the administrative cost per claim in the CICP is $40,000, which only pays medical experts within HHS.
The study highlighted another potential barrier for people seeking compensation for a COVID-19 vaccine injury. If a person’s claim is denied by the VICP, he or she can file an appeal and the case is presented again before a judge. However, in the CICP, a person can ask for the claim to be reconsidered, but it is reviewed by a similar group of medical professionals with no transparency about their identity or credentials.
To conduct the study, Zhao took a deep dive into information from the White House budget and the Department of Treasury. Her findings are especially relevant given that the CICP and VICP fulfill the same role, yet have such different structures and spending outcomes. Since the CICP began with the PREP Act in 2005, it has experienced only occasional public health emergencies, such as the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The VICP, in contrast, has been operating continuously since 1986 with lower administrative costs and higher compensation payouts.
In the publication, Zhao makes several policy recommendations that would improve the compensation process for future public health emergencies. They include merging the CICP and VICP and locating the single program in the federal claims court, which is the VICP’s current home. Alternatively, the publication recommends that Congress consider incremental changes, such as judicial review of the CICP, increased transparency, financial and performance audits, and more cost-effective use of taxpayer money.
The publication produced by the study was rigorously peer-reviewed, Zhao said, and fills a gap of knowledge about the compensation process during public health emergencies. The PREP Act is essential for a rapid response to crises like COVID-19, Zhao said, and vaccine adverse events continue to be exceedingly low in proportion to the number of vaccines administered. But Americans deserve a fair and transparent opportunity to seek compensation when they feel they have been harmed, she said.
“Vaccines are incredibly important for public health, but the design of the federal CICP represents a conflict of interest and lacks checks and balances,” she said. “From a public health and public policy perspective, the program needs to be improved so that it more effectively reduces vaccine hesitancy by serving as a warranty for vaccine safety.”
The publication can be found at https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/9/1/lsac008/6555422. Zhao’s team included several faculty researchers from the Department of Economics at the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus: Firat Demir, Ph.D., Pallab K. Ghosh, Ph.D., and Myongjin Kim, Ph.D.; and Austin Earley, graduate student researcher in the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Sciences Center.

On Friday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in Enid will present “Museum After Dark: Village Sounds” featuring singer/songwriter Stacey Sanders. The Village Church on the grounds of the Humphrey Heritage Village will be transformed for the evening into an intimate listening room for the musician to share songs and stories. The CSRHC will remain open for the duration, so visitors can also explore our shared history at their leisure.
Museums are honest, authentic interpreters of the past, using pieces of historic evidence as a guide. Musicians are also storytellers, also telling honest, authentic stories about the world around us. “Museum After Dark: Village Sounds” at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is a chance to explore our story in Oklahoma from the perspective of different songwriters from our state.
As Sanders’s song “Government Issue” suggests, “I was a Desert Strike baby conceived in 1964.” He indeed was born in 1965 in Blackwell. His family relocated frequently to other states and Germany due to his father’s military service until they settled in Enid in 1976. Sanders then started playing acoustic guitar and penning songs during his teens. He cut his teeth on the sounds of James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Neil Young and other acoustic musicians he would aspire to become. Sanders unapologetically shies away from love songs and prefers telling gritty, earthy stories. Many of his songs are based on true-life experiences while others are whimsical, wild tales. He resides in Enid with his wife, Kay, and their dog, Jane.
The concert is free with admission to the CSRHC. Members of the CSRHC or the Oklahoma Historical Society always visit the center for free. This event is made possible through the financial support of our community partner, Park Avenue Thrift. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is located at 507 S. Fourth Street in Enid. For more information, please call 580-237-1907 or visit www.csrhc.org.
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

by James Coburn – staff writer

Sherice Randle, LPN, needed to understand more about Alzheimer’s Disease after her aunt was diagnosed with the most prevalent form of dementia.
“So, I got my CNA and CMA and worked in nursing homes for a while,” Randle said.
“People with Alzheimer’s have their good days and their bad days. So as a family member you must take that in stride,” she said. “You have to know that they’re in there somewhere. They know who you are, but sometimes they may not know who you are,” said Randle, who serves as a case manager over long-term care and skilled nursing care at The Wilshire Skilled Nursing and Therapy, located in Oklahoma City. “You just have to take it how it is day-to-day. My aunt wasn’t the only one. Alzheimer’s runs in my family. You take your good days. Sometimes you might have more bad days than good days.”
She found patience to be a valuable component of living with somebody with Alzheimer’s disease.
“You remember the good and how they were, and don’t remember them like that,” she continued. She learned how residents living with Alzheimer’s respond well to music from decades ago. (story continues below)

“I used to have this one. He could forget anything there was except how to play dominoes,” she said. “If you set some dominoes in front of him, that was it. He’d beat you in dominoes all day long.”
Nursing has always been a learning opportunity for Randle. Her career pathway included being a home health aide while putting herself through nursing school. After graduating from nursing school, she worked in long-term acute care unit of a hospital.
“I did a lot of vents and learned a lot in an LTAC, but it wasn’t my calling,” she said. “A nursing home is where I feel more comfortable.”
She joined The Wilshire in early March. Randle earned her LPN license after graduating from Chisholm Trail Technology Center, located in Omega, 16 miles west of Kingfisher.
“It’s smaller and I like their leadership and their structure,” she said. “The staff works hard together, and I like that.”
Everybody is willing to pitch in during times when they would otherwise have a staffing shortage, Randle said. There have been experiences that have moved her to persevere. When Randle was a CNA, she cared for an older lady who was part of a group of people who lived to be over 100. Randle would read to the group each day she was at work.
“She liked the comics, so I had to read her the comics. Another liked the classifieds. I would ask him, ‘Why do you make me go over all of the classified stuff with you?’ I started to read certain things out of the classifieds, and he was like, ‘No, you have to read it all.’ I really like them, and when I left there, I really missed them a lot.”
Another woman would tell her stories about her life in Europe. Randle enjoyed listening to older residents telling her stories about their lives. Each one of the residents at The Wilshire Skilled Nursing and Therapy come from different walks of life. One man ran a farm and one of the women worked in government.
Anyone working in long-term care and skilled nursing needs to have a lot of patience and organizational skills, Randle said. As the MDS coordinator, she documents all the information Medicare requires for reimbursement and audits. Medications are documented as well as if the resident requires more than one person for assistance. Vision and dental and whether the residents require total care is reported to the federal government.
“You put all that information in their care plan,” she continued.
The Easter Bunny passed out Easter eggs as a recent guest at The Wilshire Skilled Nursing and Therapy. It was part of the many activities that keep residents engaged in their community. Staff and volunteer organizations help with the activities that include putting together puzzles and involvement in holidays, among other events.
“It keeps them motivated and it keeps them busy,” she said. “For some people it keeps them up-to-date.”
The nursing staff spends a lot of time speaking to each resident in order to relate to their daily likes and dislikes. “It’s hard work, but on the skilled side of it, I like seeing people accomplish their goals and send them back home,” Randle said.
“We get them to their prior level of care so they can go back home. Some decline home health services because they don’t need it. That’s a goal that I set for myself — to try to get them back home. I like working with elderly people. I don’t know how to explain it, I just like working with them.”
Randle has her challenges as a nurse but said she would rather continue her work as a nurse than do something less enriching in life.
For more information visit: https://www.wilshireokc.com/